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June 16, 2009

Did you ever have a piece of fabric you loved but didn't have any idea how to use it? Any leftovers from a previous project? Bought too much of a bolt you just had to have but never found a use for? If you're anything like me you either buy too much or too little.

First thing's first, DON'T GO OUT AND BUY A SKIRT PATTERN. Most of them are just rectangles! You don't need them! This is a great way to use those scrap pieces without investing too much of your time! What's more, if you use a coupon when buying your fabric you could make each skirt for somewhere around $5 or less depending on how much you spend per yard. Only one yard is needed.The tutorial will teach you how to make each of these skirts which are included in the giveaway as well.

I'm all about sewing the quick and dirty way! Fast is key. I have such a low attention span, if a project takes more than a couple hours I'm far more likely to abandon it. This little project will add to your wardrobe but only take 20 minutes or less....no lie....I promise!

The key is to have all your materials in front of you before you begin. Searching for items around the house is so time consuming AND frustrating! Having everything at hand makes a project seem twice as simple.For this project you will need in front of you a: threaded sewing machine, scissors, safety pin, elastic and of course fabric (about 3/4 to one yard). And I like to include a seam ripper because I always seem to need this at some point in any given project.

Once you have all those things you can begin. The best part about this tutorial is that there is no measuring tape involved which really cuts down on time! To really make this go by fast I used one yard that I purchased at the fabric store (typically 45" wide). As with most cotton fabrics the sides are sealed so that they do not fray. This is key because you will not have to hem the bottom of the skirt when done.

First take your material and fold it in half so that the two sealed sides meet.

Second. Cut down the middle. Be sure to keep both pieces completely equal because when you sew them together later they will have to match up evenly.

Third. Sew the two pieces right sides together at one end so that you have one long (not wide) piece.

Fourth. Now to sew a casing. To do this all you have to do is fold over the top raw edge (not the sealed bottom) about 1". Sew along the top and be sure to make the casing as large or as small as your elastic. A casing too small will make the elastic roll and a casing too large with bunch up your fabric when the elastic is relaxed.

In my photo I sealed the raw edge with my serger. You don't have to do this but if you have a serger it will help to keep from fraying.

Fifth. Now measure the elastic by wrapping it around your waist. BE SURE TO DO IT UNDER YOUR CLOTHING. I am doing it over mine because I was wearing a dress and didn't want to show everyone my undies:) Subtract about 2-3 inches from the amount you used to wrap around your waist and cut the elastic.

Six. Now to thread it through the casing you just made. If you have one of those plastic casing tools then by all means use that but if you don't (or can't find yours like me) attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic.

Seven. Push the safety pin through the casing easing it down the tunnel by bunching the fabric then moving it down the elastic. When the end of the elastic reaches the hole where you started to thread the elastic attach a safety pin to keep the elastic from pulling through the casing any further.

Eight. When the end of elastic meets the end of the casing be sure to stitch the ends of the casing and elastic so that it won't be pulled through the tunnel. Do this on both ends.

Nine. Finally sew sides together with right sides facing each other. Since you didn't trim the fabric at the bottom you won't need to sew a hem at the bottom unless you want to. Normally a 45" fabric will be long enough to fall at your knees when you cut it in half.

Turn right side out.AND YOU'RE DONE! New skirt.Optional. I made another skirt and added a red peaking pettiskirt by simply sewing the red material under the hem I made in step four. But you can also add it at the beginning and fold it over with the hem. If you want it to peak out at the bottom you will have to trim your top layer so that it is shorter than your bottom layer. The top layer will then have to be hemmed so that you don't have a raw edge. This might add an extra 5-7 minutes to the project.

And if any of you were interested the dress I'm wearing is from Forever 21 and it was only $13.80!!!!

Since these skirts are elastic I would say they would fit a size 2-8.As usual, if you would like a chance to win these skirts just link back to this post. If you have any questions see the "questions and answers" link to the right. If you use blogger just use the "create a link" link at the bottom of this post. If you don't use blogger, that's fine too. Just create a link on your page as you normally would and I will see it using Technorati.Create a Link

I love these - I have made similar for my girls but haven't for myself, now I am wondering why??? I love your method of sewing, it's mine, too!!! I always get inspired by your projects - so glad you share!

Wow! Great skirt and I love your dress as well. I couldn't resist adding your tutorial to our link luv roundup. Come take a peek.http://www.luvinthemommyhood.com/2009/06/link-luv-roundup_17.htmlThanks for sharing :)

My mother-in-law gave me a sewing machine as a wedding gift and I think its time to break it out. Especially for a project as easy sounding as this. (fingers crossed) But I would still LOVE to win the skirts!! :)

Thank you for doing more tutorials! I love learning how to make things. I am inspired to make a skirt now and I just saw one at a store with the pettiskirt underneath that I loved for $28. Now I can make my own! I also loved the tutu tutorial (say that 5 times fast!). I had just bought my daughter one for her first birthday pict/party for $15 but now I can make her a bigger one as she gets older.

I just LOVE this tutorial!!! I'm not going to link to it because I HAVE to make my own (in my maternity size, then later after I lose the baby weight). I can't have enough skirts for this summer that I'm pregnant, they're perfect! Thank you so much for sharing!

I really want to try it! I'm a complete hand sewer, I don't have a machine, so it will take me longer than 20 minutes, but not that much longer I bet. I'm a 14, does that mean it won't look good on me??? I guess we'll find out.

I made the skirt last night. I used two yards for a fuller skirt. It took me longer...about an hour. I didn't use my serger. I had to hem the bottom edge, because there was writing in the selvage.

I remembered a great time saving step(in the middle of the night) if you use your serger to make the casing. Fold the fabric down, then back to the right side. Run the three thicknesses of fabric through your serger...you will encase the edge and sew you casing in one step.

I just blogged about it. Thanks for sharing such a simple way to create a cute skirt. I love it! I hope I win one. :) I'll have to make one for myself one of these days and one for my little girl that will be here in the September! I love your stuff... thanks for sharing your talents with all of us!

Awesome tutorial. I have three short skirts that I thought were a deal at $15 but now that I see how easy it is I'm gonna snatch up some cute fabric and make my own! Thanks! I really really like the red one. Good job!

so- this is essentially what i do for my daughter. but when i've tried the same method for me, i look like a oompa-loompa. waaaaaaaay too hippy for my liking. is it the type of material i'm using? just basic cotton.

I may be a dumby here, but I look ginormous in this skirt. I know I've put on wait, but sheesh! I am on the short side, so I am thinking I need to cut back the amount of fabric to 3/4 yard so that it's less fabric around my waist and hips. Right?

I love this idea and I have so much material I bought for making aprons but just haven't gotten to them, I think I like this idea much much better especially for the summer....I am entering the contest... http://pbdesigns.blogspot.com and I have linked to you and posted on my blog...yippeeee....

I made two skirts this week. One was a too long one from a thrift store which I shortened, and the other I made up the pattern for, but both had elastic in the waist! ;) I'll have to try the simpler version, some time.

I just made this skirt and it was super easy. I haven't sewed anything in years and I did it. It took me two hours rather than 20 minutes but it turned out beautiful. Thanks for giving me the inspiration to start sewing again.

Kathleen, thanks for the tutorial & the inspiration! I am a COMPLETE beginner & this lil' project took me way over 3 hours to finish. However, in my defense - this is the very first thing I sow on my machine I got for my bday! It was hard work, but I love the feeling of having created something! :-)Thanks again! Cheers, Julie PS. See a pic of my skirt on my blog (on which you're mentioned).

A question please. If I add the red skirt underneath, I sew it in with the casing of the top skirt? I wasn't quite sure. Thank you for any help! Love the red skirt. Looks so Anthropologie. I think I found the perfect fabric too. Thanks for the post!

I FINALLY made this skirt! A friend came over with a yard of blue satin and needed a wonder woman skirt. Whew! This tute was SUPER simple to follow. (Any issues I had were PURELY material related. That poly-satin frays SO MUCH and is so slippy!)

I just made two of these skirts!!! I love how easy they are! I Just received my first sewing machine ever two weeks ago and I already made two beautiful skirts!!! THank you so much for this tutoriaL!!!--Mariela

Oh my gosh, thank you for this! I'm notorious for starting projects and then never finishing them because they take too long and I get bored. This, though, I think I can handle! But now I want to go to the fabric store...

heeey i'm from buenos airesi liked very much this tutorial 'cause i have to do a skirt for a school project, and first we have to make an investigation and it's really messy but one of the things we gotta do is find a tutorial like this and put, well all in all, what i had to say is that i got a high mark in the investigation

Thanks for your tutorial. I featured tutorial on my blog danggoodfinds.com. I have made several skirts and my girls love them. Feel free to grab a "featured on" button (found on the side of my blog) if you would like. Thanks again,

I'm not great at sewing, but I can sew a straight line, which was all that was necessary to make a super cute skirt. Now that I have one done and I know the measurements for the fabric and elastic, I'm going to make a bunch to wear this summer instead of shorts. Thanks for a great tutorial!

I made the skirt! My FIRST EVER attempt at making adult clothing! I ADORE it! I messed up and couldn't follow directions somewhere along the way, but I righted myself and it all turned out okay. :) Thanks for the AWESOME and easy tutorial! I've already shared it with EVERYONE I know. :) http://secretmommy.blogspot.com/2011/06/adrenalin-rush-from-sewing.html

I just made one and it was sooo easy and fun! I dont have a lot of clothes because i refuse to buy larger clothes to fit me while im trying to lose weight. So this is a big help and i will make more! I can easily adjust it if while I lose weight. OH! and.... I have two little girls, so now this will be a breeze to make for them as well! Thanks so much for sharing :)

Awesome blog you have here but I was curious if you knew of any user discussion forums that cover the same topics talked about here? I’d really like to be a part of group where I can get responses from other knowledgeable individuals that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Many thanks!

I would like to thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I'm hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming also. In fact your creative writing skills has inspired me to get my own blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a great example of it.FS Mini Biner Carabiner by Metolius

Thanks so much for this great tutorial! I just bought a sewing machine and undertook your skirt as my first project! I made a few mistakes and learned a ton, but overall I am really happy with my first creation :)

Thanks for taking the time to help beginners like me accomplish something easy that builds confidence for the more challenging projects to come!

So pretty! I'm going to try this, and I'm going to use a bit more material so it is a bit of a bigger skirt. I'm new to sewing, so this will be my first big project! fingers crossed!!! thanks for the tutorial!love,ariellawww.glitterartfit.blogspot.com